Countdown to CollegeCountdown to College

Steve Gray Steve Gray

Rising Sun High SchoolRising Sun High School

Why go to College?Why go to College?

Better Paying JobsBetter Paying Jobs Access to Wider Range of Access to Wider Range of

Career ChoicesCareer Choices Exposure to variety of people Exposure to variety of people

and culturesand cultures ““Avoid becoming an Adult”Avoid becoming an Adult”

College FactsCollege Facts

College Graduates earn more College Graduates earn more MoneyMoney

Many students switch majorsMany students switch majors 25% do not return for their 25% do not return for their

Sophomore yearSophomore year 50% of those who start college 50% of those who start college

will not graduatewill not graduate Involvement increases Involvement increases

graduation chancesgraduation chances

College Drop-outsCollege Drop-outs

50% are Drug and Alcohol 50% are Drug and Alcohol RelatedRelated

Other Reasons:Other Reasons: RelationshipsRelationships ““I’m taking a year off”I’m taking a year off” Financial IssuesFinancial Issues DepressionDepression HomesickHomesick Picked the wrong schoolPicked the wrong school

College GraduatesCollege Graduates

23% of US Population has a 23% of US Population has a Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree

20% have an Associates Degree20% have an Associates Degree 6% have a Master’s Degree6% have a Master’s Degree 1% have a Doctorate1% have a Doctorate 2% have a MBA, JD or MD2% have a MBA, JD or MD Average starting salary Bachelor’s Average starting salary Bachelor’s

in 2012 will be $68,000 in 2012 will be $68,000

Top Ten College MythsTop Ten College Myths

10. Grades are more important 10. Grades are more important than challenging classesthan challenging classes

9. SAT tests are more important 9. SAT tests are more important than gradesthan grades

8. I need to decide on my career 8. I need to decide on my career prior to collegeprior to college

7. A poor 97. A poor 9thth or 10 or 10thth grade year will grade year will doom you.doom you.

College Myths (continued)College Myths (continued)

6. Activities will make-up for poor 6. Activities will make-up for poor gradesgrades

5. I have to finish in 4 years5. I have to finish in 4 years

4. My life is ruined if I don’t get into 4. My life is ruined if I don’t get into _____ college/university_____ college/university

3. Liberal Arts colleges lack Science 3. Liberal Arts colleges lack Science and Engineering Programsand Engineering Programs

2. The Federal Government gives the 2. The Federal Government gives the most Financial Aidmost Financial Aid

And the Number 1 College And the Number 1 College Myth…Myth…

““There is no way I There is no way I can afford this”can afford this”

Paying for CollegePaying for College

CashCash Credit CardsCredit Cards Payment PlansPayment Plans Parents work at college that offers free Parents work at college that offers free

tuition to dependentstuition to dependents Utilize Financial Aid Options (75% of Utilize Financial Aid Options (75% of

College Students Nationwide)College Students Nationwide) ScholarshipsScholarships Co-opsCo-ops Work-study ProgramsWork-study Programs Attend part-timeAttend part-time

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Merit-BasedMerit-Based Scholarships (Public and Private)Scholarships (Public and Private) Institutional Aid (from the college)Institutional Aid (from the college) Grants (State Residents)Grants (State Residents) Awards (Local Groups, Civic Awards (Local Groups, Civic

organizations etc.) organizations etc.) These offers are NOT tied to These offers are NOT tied to

financial aid offersfinancial aid offers

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Need-Based AidNeed-Based Aid Cost of attendance – EFC = Cost of attendance – EFC =

Financial AidFinancial Aid Starts with The FAFSAStarts with The FAFSA

www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov

COMPLETE THE FAFSA NO COMPLETE THE FAFSA NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK MATTER WHAT YOU THINK

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FORYOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR

Examples of Financial AidExamples of Financial Aid

4-year State University4-year State University $17,000 cost (Tuition, Room, $17,000 cost (Tuition, Room,

Board, Fees, Books, Supplies, Board, Fees, Books, Supplies, “incidentals”)“incidentals”)

FAFSA says you have an EFC of FAFSA says you have an EFC of $10,000$10,000

The remaining 7,000 is Financial The remaining 7,000 is Financial AidAid

This is called a “Financial Aid This is called a “Financial Aid Package” through the InstitutionPackage” through the Institution

Federal LoansFederal Loans

Perkins LoanPerkins Loan $4,000 maximum per year$4,000 maximum per year 5% fixed rate5% fixed rate

Federal LoansFederal Loans

Stafford Loans (subsidized & Stafford Loans (subsidized & unsubsidized)unsubsidized)

Government pays the interestGovernment pays the interest $ 3,500 – 10,500 depending on $ 3,500 – 10,500 depending on

year and dependant statusyear and dependant status Fixed interest rate = 6.8%Fixed interest rate = 6.8%

Key PointsKey Points

Most Federal Programs are Most Federal Programs are need-basedneed-based

You EFC (Estimated Family You EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) is the most Contribution) is the most important factor in receiving important factor in receiving financial aid.financial aid.

Scholarships are mostly merit-Scholarships are mostly merit-based and competitive. based and competitive.

ScholarScholarship ship

College OptionsCollege Options

2 year/Community Colleges2 year/Community Colleges 4 year/Public & Private Colleges 4 year/Public & Private Colleges

& Universities& Universities Trade/Technical SchoolsTrade/Technical Schools Co-op SchoolsCo-op Schools

College OptionsCollege Options

What are you looking for?What are you looking for? SettingSetting Degree offeringsDegree offerings ActivitiesActivities Student Advisement & Career Student Advisement & Career

ServicesServices SafetySafety Student ProfilesStudent Profiles

College ShoppingCollege Shopping

Use the internet & Guidance Use the internet & Guidance resourcesresources

Take your Take your ownown tour after the tour after the admissions office touradmissions office tour

AcknowledgeAcknowledge your reactions to a your reactions to a campus visitcampus visit

Process Process these reactions with your these reactions with your childchild

Think of this process as the same as Think of this process as the same as buying a housebuying a house

College Admission ProcessCollege Admission Process

What are they looking for?What are they looking for? Transcript TrendsTranscript Trends GPA/Class RankGPA/Class Rank Strong Junior & Senior YearStrong Junior & Senior Year SAT/ACT ScoresSAT/ACT Scores RecommendationsRecommendations Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities School ProfileSchool Profile

Follow Directions & Pay Attention to Follow Directions & Pay Attention to DeadlinesDeadlines

““What’s a parent to do?”What’s a parent to do?”

Be Involved in the processBe Involved in the process Counselor/Student/Parent Counselor/Student/Parent

meetingsmeetings Visit Colleges with your childVisit Colleges with your child Help organize the paperwork, but Help organize the paperwork, but

let your child do the majoritylet your child do the majority “ “peeking over their shoulder”peeking over their shoulder”

Let the countdown begin…Let the countdown begin…

NOWNOW Be aware of your gradesBe aware of your grades ““go shopping”go shopping” Keep a notebook/fileKeep a notebook/file

AwardsAwards ActivitiesActivities Teachers who will write Teachers who will write

recommendationsrecommendations College wish listCollege wish list Possible majorsPossible majors

Campus visitsCampus visits Check scholarshipsCheck scholarships

Continuing the CountdownContinuing the Countdown

NEXT YEARNEXT YEAR Early NovemberEarly November

Early Decision/Action DeadlinesEarly Decision/Action Deadlines

November/DecemberNovember/December Filling out Applications (mostly online)Filling out Applications (mostly online)

DecemberDecember Last time to take the SAT’s for 4 year college Last time to take the SAT’s for 4 year college

purposespurposes

January January Financial Aid/FAFSA WorkshopFinancial Aid/FAFSA Workshop

Continuing the CountdownContinuing the Countdown

FebruaryFebruary Mid-Year Transcripts sent to College Mid-Year Transcripts sent to College

Admission officesAdmission offices March/AprilMarch/April

Student Aid Report (SAR)Student Aid Report (SAR) Acceptance LettersAcceptance Letters Decisions and DepositsDecisions and Deposits

May/JuneMay/June Avoid SenioritisAvoid Senioritis Graduate Graduate

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS